Billy Ray Leatherwood
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Billy Ray Leatherwood, 63, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the AmVets Post 98, West Plains, Missouri.
Mr. Leatherwood died 6:10 p.m., Monday, April 28, 2014 at the White County Medical Center, Searcy, Arkansas. He was born March 22, 1951 at Mineral Wells, Texas to Julia Ann Teslich Leatherwood and the late Ray Donald Leatherwood. Mr. Leatherwood was a veteran having served with the United States Navy during the Vietnam Conflict. He was the owner of Magnum Construction. Mr. Leatherwood was a member of the AmVets Post 98, West Plains, was AmVets state president and was a member of the AmVets Riders.
He is survived by his mother, Julia Leatherwood, West Plains, Missouri; three children, David Ray Leatherwood, wife, Dawn, West Plains, Missouri, Jarred Reed, Vernal, Utah and Rachel Dianne Leatherwood, Nixa, Missouri; three step-daughters, Chantel Stoops, Yvette Ware and Tyana Bennett; six grandchildren, Dakota, Kiawa, Coy, Montana, Brynlee and Puddin; one brother, Leonard Leatherwood, wife, Coleta, Caulfield, Missouri; two sisters, Judy Yates, husband, Gene, Peaster, Texas and Ruby Carnley, Weatherford, Texas; wife, Cathy Leatherwood, West Plains, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.
His father preceded him in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or St. Judes Children’s Hospital and left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Ron & Linda Hayes
April 30, 2014 @ 5:10 pm
Julia & family,
We are so very sorry for your loss, and pray that your happy memories will help you through this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Ron & Linda Hayes
Tammy Henderson
May 1, 2014 @ 10:20 am
So very sorry about Billy. Such a shock. He was a wonderful friend, always smiling. Your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Loretta Hearn
May 1, 2014 @ 2:29 pm
My thoughts and prayers to the entire family. Billy was always full of joy and hapiness. Such a shock that this could happen to such a wonderful person. On the flip side, he is with the Lord. He was a man of God and truely believed. He will truely be missed but what a wonderful place he is now.
Roxanne Rupar
May 1, 2014 @ 7:09 pm
Julia:
So sorry to hear about Bill. I know how much you loved him and I know as a mother, this is a difficult time. Please know that you are in my prayers. We know that he is in a much better place and we will see him again in heaven.
Stephanie & Terry Brown
May 2, 2014 @ 12:27 am
Our time getting to know Billy was brief, as it was cut short by the accident, but has left a foot print within our hearts no others person’s shoe could fill. We learned a lot about him in our sharing good times & rough times. He was loyal to those within his inner circle, he was a man of faith, he was very proud of his family, he was a proud Vietnam veteran, he was a proud American, he was proud to be a member of AMVETS, and he was proud of his accomplishments within the AMVETS Riders, at both Chapter 98 and the MO State level.
We are happy we got to know Billy, share some good times, spend time in the wind with him, and will miss him long into the future.
Our prayers are with all of the family this time, as well as everyone whose life Billy touched. May the Lord’s loving hand touch all of those grieving and ease the sorrow within the hearts of those mourning.
We know he is in the wind on a Heavenly highway with a big smile upon his face as he looks down from above upon us.
It is with a heavy heart we say good-bye to him on this Earth, but joy in knowing we will ride with him again along Heaven’s highway one day upon being called to our Heavenly home.
Brenda kimball
May 3, 2014 @ 2:59 am
Billy and I were good friends in the 70’s,he always drove a very sharp truck,with very pipes. I talked him into loaning it to me to cruise around in for just a couple hours,I felt so cool. I didn’t bring his truck back for 2 days. Trust thing he did was check his truck out head to toe and found it very clean,I think that was what saved me from a terrible butt chewing,I did get a little one though,and he never loaned me his truck again. I think that was in 74 or 75. He still let me cruise around with him,even bought me a hamburger or two. I left West plains in 76. When I moved back in 86. And every now and then get to say hi and catch up a little………..I loved you Billiy for being the guy you were when we were young, when it get to heaven can I browser your truck for a couple hours………last time I saw you u were driving your white work truck . My prayers go out to your wonderful family,God be with them in this dark hour.
Brenda Mark
May 4, 2014 @ 9:57 pm
I had the pleasure of meeting Billy at an AMVETS event, and immediately liked him. His laughter, the respect I saw between him and everyone else. I am so sorry for your loss.
People ask me why I love riding a motorcycle. . . . it’s people like Billy, and other AMVETS members that are good examples of why I love it. The people you meet along the way, their passion for life, love between one another. The world needs more love, and more brotherhood among human beings. Another good person, gone way too soon. I like to picture my friends who have died on bikes racing through the sky on motorcycles, riding with the wind in their face, no problems at all, trying to talk St .Peter into a chromed out chopper. haha My prayers and love goes out to all of the friends, family and loved ones of Billy Leatherman.